First Match Play - Advice Please?

**2bGood** · September 23, 2009

This is the first year I played in organized competitive golf. It has been fun playing in tournaments, though I have managed to choke in the first few. I now have my first Match play competition coming up. I have never played match play - not even with my buddies.

Any advice on rules I need to study and strategy I should consider would be great.

thanks in advance

**Wazzu8** · September 23, 2009

One thing I read is think that your competitor is going to make every putt, that way if he/she does you don't get rattled by it.

**Smiffy** · September 23, 2009

I love match play. You can be a little more "Gung ho" than you can in medal or stroke play as you haven't got a card to protect as such.
Is it singles or fourball?

**stebed** · September 23, 2009

I have played a ton of singles and Doubles matchplay last two season and have just won the club championship doubles last Sunday. It does help if you are familiar with your opponents game but not crucial. I dont get too hung up on score, just making less shots than them and don't concede a hole too early. I had one last year where I went OB off the tee and my opponent was about 300 down the middle. I played 3 off the tee and a rescue to about 60yards short of the green, he then put 2 in the green side pond I won the hole and went onto win the match, and that was from being 3 down after 3! Play your own game really is best advice. If your opponent is longer than you from the tee don't try and keep up, it just means you are first to hit into the green and the pressure is back on him.

**VOX** · September 23, 2009

Don't ever underestimate your opponents ability to f-up. If you his two tee shots in the water, hit another -- your opponent may hit three in the water.

**David in FL** · September 23, 2009

It's not over until it's over.

That works both ways......never give up, even if you're down 4 with 5 to play. Equally important, when you're up 4 with 5 to play, you can't relax......win that next hole and close it out.

Remember too........unlike stroke play, one blow up hole, no matter how bad will not ruin your match. It's only one hole. Put it behind you and move on.

Have fun. Match play is a ton of fun!

Rolf Harris · September 23, 2009

match play is the most enjoyable and exciting way to compete in my opinion. The best thing i've found is that you need to ignore what your opponent is doing and just try to get yourself a par. If you start thinking 'oh i may only need a bogey to win this hole' then you get in the wrong mindset and you end up halving or losing the hole.

Go for pars on every hole.

**2bGood** · September 23, 2009

I love match play. You can be a little more "Gung ho" than you can in medal or stroke play as you haven't got a card to protect as such.

Singles. In the first round I am playing a guy who will need to give me 6 or 7 strokes (85% of the hndcp diff). I figure this is good for me as I always play better against better golfers. I am also playing well right now - shot a 40 for 9 yesterday, so I am hoping to keep game in the slot for Sunday.

**Parker0065** · September 23, 2009

I've had some incredible matches this year in my clubs Match Play Championship. I made it all the way through my bracket and am awaiting to play in the finals. On the way I've had to beat the current Club Champion and then the next opponent was even tougher being one of the best players in the region.

Basically I won both those matches by out putting them but there is a lot of strategy in matchplay. You have to evaluate each situation and play to that.

Here's just a couple examples from my matches:

1) I had a 40 foot putt for birdie while my opponent was only 8 feet away and I knew that they are normally a very good putter so I fully expected them to make it. So in my mind the one thing I wanted to make sure of was that I didn't leave it short. Obviously you don't want to hit it so hard it runs by 10 feet but I was comfortable running it 4 to 5 feet by in this situation. I drained the 40 footer and my opponent missed thier 8 footer.

2) I had messed up a hole and was 50 feet away for par while my opponent was 20 feet away for birdie. This particular opponent was not a great putter so I decided to lag my par putt up close and see what happens. I knocked my 50 footer up inside of a foot and tapped in for bogey. My opponent then 3-putted from 20 feet and we halved the hole. Like many have already stated, never give up on a hole!

3) It's the par3 17th and the match is tied. The pin is on the far left side of the green which I know is a bit of a sucker pin because if you get a few feet to the left of that pin your ball will run off the green with a tough chip coming back. I'm up first so I play for the middle of the green and execute it perfectly leaving myself a 20 foot birdie putt. My opponent goes right at the hole, lands a few feet to the left of the pin and runs off the green down the embankment. They fail to get up and down and two putts later I'm 1-up. We halved #18 and I won the match.

Evaluate each situation and play the percentages and you will do well!

Good Luck!

**Elvisliveson** · September 23, 2009

I would heed the advice about playing more agressive ("gung ho"), but the one about ignoring what your opponent is doing is actually stroke play advice. In match play you want to know precisely what your opponent is doing on every shot, as it should determine how you play your next shot.

**Drifterland** · September 23, 2009

This is the first year I played in organized competitive golf. It has been fun playing in tournaments, though I have managed to choke in the first few. I now have my first Match play competition coming up. I have never played match play - not even with my buddies.

Let me tell you a story. I came to the ninth hole of a nine hole match all square. My competitor hit his drive about 285-295 right down the center. I topped my drive rolling it into the right trees just past the ladies tees. I hit a low cut out of the trees that left me hitting my third shot from 215 to a small bunkered green up the hill. I hit a perfect shot to about twenty feet and made the putt for par.

My competitor hit his approach from about 155 just off the green and three putted. Giving me the match. The Moral? Always believe you can make par no matter what happens. Don't try stupid shots, but try and make par however you can. Good luck sir.

**Smiffy** · September 23, 2009

Singles. In the first round I am playing a guy who will need to give me 6 or 7 strokes (85% of the hndcp diff). I figure this is good for me as I always play better against better golfers. I am also playing well right now - shot a 40 for 9 yesterday, so I am hoping to keep game in the slot for Sunday.

85%??

Over here we used to play 3/4's the difference in singles matchplay but CONGU (the governing body in the UK) have since stipulated that we get full allowance in singles, but still 3/4's in betterball. I would much rather play against a lower handicapped golfer. You will be surprised how much pressure they will be under when they are giving you a shot, especially if you are playing steady golf. As others have said, don't relax and assume your opponent is out of the hole. That will put you in the wrong frame of mind and a half (or worse) could be the result. I have a good friend of mine plays off 9 who is a brilliant matchplay player. He is at his most dangerous when you think he is out of it. I've seen him hit recovery shots that Seve in his prime would have been proud of, and he has turned a loss into a win. It only takes one flukey putt from 40 feet for par to put you under pressure not to three putt from 15 feet when you were on in regulation. Trust me....you will love it. I'm playing tomorrow (36 holes). My mate and I are taking on two other guys but although we are partners I will still be trying to outdo him in my head!!

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First Match Play - Advice Please?

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